Monday, February 06, 2012

Nielsen Could Be Odd Man Out, Nabokov to Detroit?

Isles GM Garth Snow has been busy working the phones. He’s fielding
offers for G Evgeni Nabokov, along with RW P.A. Parenteau and C Frans
Nielsen. Sources say the Isles have held talks with Parenteau and
Nielsen, but it’s likely they both won’t be kept. Expect the club to
sign Parenteau and move Nielsen.

BURNSIDE: You are right about the Red Wings’
goaltending depth issues. Conklin has played in only 10 games this
season and has an .886 save percentage. Even though Howard’s injury
doesn’t sound that serious long-term, do you think this hastens the
urgency to find a more suitable backup for the Red Wings? It was GM Ken
Holland, after all, who tried to nab Nabokov a year ago when the former
San Jose mainstay cut short his experience in the Kontinental Hockey
League. The New York Islanders
grabbed him, however, and Nabokov has been OK with a pretty mediocre
Islanders squad. But he’s not the long-term answer there. (Kevin Poulin appears to be the heir apparent with Al Montoya
still looking to get a shot at the No. 1 job, too.) So, Nabokov to
Detroit does seem a logical move and perhaps even more so with Friday's
news.

Also around the Internet, Staios, and Eaton are available, but those were gimmes. I've said this before, If the Islanders are still in contention, no one will be traded.But to play along for a moment, this will be a very interesting trade deadline for the Islanders. Would they really trade Neilsen? Personally I see both Parenteau and Neilsenresigned, but if a trade were to occur, I would hope for a player in return and not another pick. The only exceptions would be of the older free agents, including Nabokov.